JoTT Short Co m m u n i c a t i o n 3(8): 2018–2022

Conservation status of Hildegardia populifolia (Roxb.) Schott & Endl. (: : Sterculieae), an endemic of southern peninsular India

Boyina Ravi Prasad Rao 1, Madha Venkata Suresh Babu 2, Araveeti Madhusudhana Reddy 3, S. Sunitha 4, A. Narayanaswamy 5, G. Lakshminarayana 5 & M. Ahmedullah 6

1,2,4,5 Biodiversity Conservation Division, Department of Botany, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh 515003, India 3 Department of Botany, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh 516003, India 6 Botanic Garden of Indian Republic, Noida, District G.B. Nagar, Uttar Pradesh 201303, India Email: 1 [email protected] (corresponding author), 2 [email protected], 3 [email protected], 4 [email protected], 5 [email protected]

Abstract: Hildegardia populifolia (Roxb.) Schott & Endl. an of extinction. Such conservation assessments are useful endemic tree of southern peninsular India is assessed in terms of the IUCN Red List status. New data from field surveys indicated tools to prioritize species for conservation action and to Vulnerable species categorization for H. populifolia. monitor the change in status of species over time. The IUCN system assesses the threat to a species based on Keywords: Hildegardia populifolia, Red List status, Vulnerable. five core criteria: decline in populations over a period that is relevant for the species (based on generation Conservation status of a species is an indicator of time); the distribution of the species together with factors the likelihood of that species continuing to survive in that may influence ongoing survival within its current nature. The International Union for the Conservation distribution; small population size and continuing of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s main authority on the decline; very small populations or small distribution conservation status of species (Mrosovsky 1997) and area; and quantitative assessment of extinction risk (e.g. the IUCN Red List provides an objective evidence- modeling) (IUCN 2001). Assessments are always done based system for classifying species in terms of the risk using the best available information, but often only partial information is available for many taxa. Recently, Babu & Rao (2009) and Rao et al. (2009, 2010) provided Date of publication (online): 26 August 2011 valuable field data for the current global population Date of publication (print): 26 August 2011 ISSN 0974-7907 (online) | 0974-7893 (print) status of Cycas beddomei Dyer and categorized it as

Editor: N.P. Balakrishnan Endangered. In the present study, we attempt to assess the current population status of Hildegardia populifolia Manuscript details: Ms # o2733 (Roxb.) Schott & Endl., a southern Indian endemic Received 20 March 2011 Final received 16 June 2011 (Ahmedullah & Nayar 1987). Finally accepted 07 July 2011 Hildegardia populifolia, a deciduous forest tree

Citation: Rao, B.R.P., M.V.S. Babu, A.M. Reddy, S. Sunitha, A. species belongs to the family Malvaceae, subfamily Narayanaswamy, G. Lakshminarayana & M. Ahmedullah (2011). Conservation status of Hildegardia populifolia (Roxb.) Schott & Endl. Sterculoideae, tribe Sterculieae. The species was earlier (Malvaceae: Sterculioideae: Sterculieae), an endemic of southern known to be represented by a sole surviving population peninsular India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 3(8): 2018–2022. comprising about 20 trees in Kalarayan Hills of Tamil Copyright: © Boyina Ravi Prasad Rao, Madha Venkata Suresh Babu, Araveeti Madhusudhana Reddy, S. Sunitha, A. Narayanaswamy, G. Nadu (Ahmedullah 1990). It is an enigmatic species Lakshminarayana & M. Ahmedullah 2011. Creative Commons Attribution in that its conservation status has been variously 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by providing assessed as Critically Endangered (Sarcar & Sarcar adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication. 2002), Endangered (Ahmedullah 1990; Walter & Gillet Acknowledgements: We thank University Grants Commission (3-49/98 1998; Rao et al. 2003). Rao et al. (1998) recognized SR II-1998) for financial assistance. We also acknowledge the support received from the Forest Department of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and five subpopulations of this Endangered species in Tamil Nadu during our field visits from time to time. Rayalaseema District of Andhra Pradesh. Jadhav et OPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOAD al. (2001) categorized it as Vulnerable. The World

2018 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | August 2011 | 3(8): 2018–2022 Conservation status of Hildegardia populifolia B.R.P. Rao et al.

Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998) assessed occurrence. Area of Occupancy (AOO) of the species the conservation status of this species as Critically within the grids is studied taking into account the terrain Endangered. After conducting intensive explorations for features with respect to altitude. The population size of the past 15 years, our research team located the species the species is estimated by extrapolating the recorded in Anantapur, Kadapa and Chittoor districts in southern individuals in the individual transect. Andhra Pradesh, Salem Hills in northern Tamil Nadu and a small patch in Karnataka bordering Anantapur Results and Discussion District of Andhra Pradesh. The present study focuses The overall distribution of the species falls within on a critical evaluation of the H. populifolia population an area of ca. 228x90 km. A conservative approach and revision of the current conservation status based on would therefore be to consider this as one location, the latest IUCN Red List Criteria (version 3.1; IUCN however, since the threats could vary between different 2001). populations, it cannot be considered so. Observations in the field indicated that at least 12 locations identified Materials and Methods for the species are separated by reasonably unoccupied Hildegardia populifolia is a deciduous tree growing areas (Fig. 2). In total, 376 individuals of H. populifolia up to 20m (Image 1). The is recognizable for its were counted in all the sampled transects of 29 grids pale green bark. are ovate-cordate, 3–5-lobed (Table 1). It was observed that the species was found and digitately 7-nerved. Flowers are purple, and erect mostly above 420m, restricted to top hills and rock with leathery perianth. Follicles are winged, erect, boulders, growing in sandy red soil. Taking these thinly woody, falcately ovate-reniform and inflated, observations into consideration, a grid map has been with 1 or 2 seeds, affixed from base of the follicle prepared for measuring the EOO of the species. The and conspicuously wrinkled when dry. The species is EOO is calculated as 14,160km2 (Fig. 2). The species locally known as Galibuduga, Pichipoliki, Buddapoliki has a patchy distribution within the grids and substantial in Telugu and Malaipuvarasu in Tamil. areas in the individual grids (more than 95% area) do not The study area cover all the known localities of the have this species (Fig. 2). The AOO thus is calculated species distribution, i.e., southern Anantapur, western to about 14.6km2 (1460ha). The population size of the Kadapa, and northern Chittoor districts of Andhra species is estimated to comprise 23,100 individuals. Pradesh; Devikunta area in Karnataka and Salem Hills Results pertaining to the AOO and the number of in Tamil Nadu (Fig. 1). The study area was stratified individuals recorded in transects extrapolation for the into grids of 6.25×6.25 km using IRS-1C satellite data. whole estimated population is presented in Table 1. The whole study area falls in the hill ranges of southern Eastern Ghats (11052’–14016’N & 77045’–78059’E) Applying IUCN criteria with an altitudinal variation of 420–982 m. Preliminary Criterion A: The available data does not provide explorations revealed the presence of H. populifolia in 29 any indicators of change in population size over time grids in the study area comprising 354 grids. Transects and hence this criterion is not applied to H. populifolia. of 1000×5 m were laid down in all the 29 grids. This Criterion B: amounts to approximately 0.019% of the total area, an Criterion B1: The EOO of H. populifolia is estimated adequate sampling intensity according to Shivaraj et al. to be 14,160km2 and considered to occur at more than (2000). In all the 29 grids, the of ≥30cm gbh were 10 locations (sub-criterion a). Further, there are no counted and considered for the analysis. Wherever the extreme fluctuations observed with respect to any of species was found in the grids, geographic coordinates (i) to (iv). It qualifies only under the sub-criterion (b) were recorded and the shortest continuous boundary for continuing decline in terms of (iii) area, extent and for the species population was been drawn on the grid quality of habitat. Hence, it does not qualify for any of map. the threatened categories under B1. The assessment is carried out as per the IUCN Red Criterion B2: The AOO is 14.6km2. However, it List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2001). The Extent does not qualify for either (a) and (c). It qualifies only of Occurrence (EOO) is estimated as a minimum for the sub-criterion (b) for continuing decline in terms convex polygon containing all the localities of species of (iii) area, extent and quality of habitat. Hence, it is

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | August 2011 | 3(8): 2018–2022 2019 Conservation status of Hildegardia populifolia B.R.P. Rao et al.

Image 1. Hildegardia populifolia A - Habit; B - Wild population; C - Fruits; D - Seeds

Figure 1. Distribution pattern of Hildegardia populifolia

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Conservation status of Hildegardia populifolia B.R.P. Rao et al.

Table 1. Grid-wise population of Hildegardia populifolia

Average AOO (in km2) Estimated No. of Locations Grid number Location altitude of within the grid individuals in the individuals the grid (40 km2) whole grid 57F16NW3 Bukkapatanam 630 14 0.9 2268 57F16NW4 Vengalammmacheruvu 622 12 0.4 384 57F16NE1 Yerlampalli 650 16 0.8 2048 Location-1 57F16NE2 Tummalamala 655 13 0.4 416 57F16NE3 Narsampalli 633 16 0.5 800 57F16NE4 Tummalamala 654 14 0.6 1008 57F16SW1 Amagondapalem 652 9 0.3 162 Location-2 57F16SW3 Amagondapalem 666 16 0.8 2048 57F16SE1 Amagondapalem 643 12 0.5 600 57G13NE1 Gounuvaripalli 754 15 0.4 480 Location-3 57G13NE2 Devikunata 642 22 0.4 352 57J3SE4 Chinapalli 459 35 0.2 280 Location-4 57J4NE1 Nigidi RF 674 18 0.9 2916 57J4NE3 Batrepalli 680 18 0.7 1764 57K1NW3 Tummala RF 579 12 0.3 216 Location-5 57K1NW4 Tummala RF 620 16 0.7 1568 57K1NE2 Tummala RF 592 13 0.7 1274 Location-6 57K5NW1 Kokkanty RF 544 15 0.6 1080 Location-7 57K5NW3 Ishwaramala 640 12 0.5 600 57K9NW1 Papepalli 624 8 0.4 288 Location-8 57K9NW3 Kalibanda 650 9 0.5 400 Location-9 57K9NW4 Rekkalakonda 672 8 0.6 576 Location-10 57K9NE1 Kalibanda 596 4 0.4 128 57K14NW3 Kottala 620 4 0.2 32 57K14NW4 Nagiripalli 522 12 0.4 384 Location-11 57K14NE1 Ankalammagudi 622 11 0.2 88 57K14NE2 Kanchamvaripalli 630 8 0.2 64 58I13NW3 Mulakkadu 458 8 0.6 576 Location-12 58I13NW4 Pudupalapatti 423 6 0.5 300 Total 376 14.6 23100 not threatened under subcriterion B2. The final assessment for Hildegardia populifolia Criterion C: Small population size and decline. The based on the present study is: VU D2. total estimated population of H. populifolia is >23100 Hildegardia populifolia assessed under three mature individuals. Since the number of mature plants threatened categories in different works, is currently exceed the requirements for Vulnerable status (i.e. <10 categorized as Vulnerable based on primary data from 000), the species is not considered as threatened under the field. The present study also provides significant this criterion. data pertaining to its distribution in peninsular India- Criterion D: Very small or restricted populations. in the states of Andhra Pradesh (Anantapur, Kadapa Although the species population comprises a large and Chittoor districts) Tamil Nadu (Salem Hills) and number of individuals, it is found restricted to < 20km2 Karnataka (in areas bordering Anantapur District of and is prone to human activities in terms of fire hence Andhra Pradesh). qualifying for Vulnerable category under D2. Criterion E: No demographic modeling has been undertaken for the species and hence this criterion does not apply for the species.

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2022 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | August 2011 | 3(8): 2018–2022